TLDR:
- Desktop/Computer case preferred vs server 3u or 4u.- less than $1000. Closer to 200-300 would be cool.- 24 3.5 disk slots. Hot swap optional.- Single case preferred. Open to mult- case solutions.- no enterprise grade noise monsters.
==========================================I am looking to setup a DAS connected to a dual cpu workstation (Dell T7910; i want the pci lanes and ecc ram).
However, I’m trying to dodge getting a proper enterprise DAS setup (netapp, dell md/power vault). Mostly, just due to noise those will generate. (I have an r720 right now and its louder than i want, in the closet, fans manually configured to a low percent).
I did some searching and saw some lian li cases (d8000) that i liked. But can’t find any on ebay.
Are there other cases that i could slap 24 disks into and not have to mod? Or, failing that, a 16+8, or 8+8+8 or something. (If i can get 20/22 slots, and a couple hanging around loosy-goosy, thats fine. I won’t be starting with 24 disks in there anyway).
My plan would be to put an hba or two in there and cable to the main system. Spinning rust. SasII.
Watch out for voltage drop. If you have high current and long wires then your voltage will drop below the minimum the drives need and you’ll get random dropouts during heavy writes. Get around it by using short wires and not too many drives per wire. Or use server PSUs which are designed for longer runs.
Having done this, its a lot simpler to buy a SAS DAS and swap the fans. The biggest noise tends to be the disks, which will be there anyway. Enterprise gear tends to weigh more and have good disk mounts which does a lot to deaden the sound the drives make, especially during seeks.